Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are holding a joint press conference this morning about possible changes to welfare and unemployment insurance.
Monday was the first day Texas lawmakers filed bills for the 2013 Legislative Session.
A Republican State Senator from Flower Mound filed a bill that she says would strengthen work and job training requirements under welfare. State Sen. Jane Nelson says the bill would also institute some drug testing for so-called "high-risk participants" and tighten rules to prevent welfare funds from being used for alcohol and tobacco.
Other bills filed Monday included one creating a constitutional proposition to allow casino gambling, one to create a penalty for distributing or prescribing abortion-inducing drugs, and several bills that would change or end the use of the state’s STAAR test used in the public school accountability system.
Multiple lawmakers also filed a bill that would ban the use of cell phones and similar electronic devices while driving.
The legislative session starts Jan. 8.
